Almeda-Vazquez was the leader of the operation, the release said, and the other four were “narcotics runners.”

Local and federal authorities began their investigation in December, the release said. The ring is accused of distributing 1.5 kilograms, or about 3.3 pounds, of heroin. During the arrest of two of the suspects in an apartment, authorities took half a kilogram of heroin, hundreds of small balloons and rubber bands and over $5,000 cash.